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Cards keeping Game 3, 4 starters under wraps

Cards keeping Game 3, 4 starters under wraps

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny talks about the success of the team's young pitching and the challenge of taking on the Pirates in the NLDS

By Jenifer Langosch and Chad Thornburg
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MLB.com |

ST. LOUIS -- If the Cardinals have settled on starters for Games 3 and 4 of their National League Division Series against the Pirates, scheduled to be played Sunday and Monday (if necessary) in Pittsburgh, they are choosing not to reveal them just yet. The organization had previously announced that Adam Wainwright and Lance Lynn will start the first two games of the series.

What is known is that the other three starting pitchers -- Joe Kelly, Michael Wacha and Shelby Miller -- will all be on the Cardinals' 25-man roster. Manager Mike Matheny noted that Wacha and Miller will be available out of the bullpen, if needed, in Game 1. That would suggest that the Cardinals are leaning toward calling on Kelly for the Game 3 start, though that is not confirmed.

"We'll make our adjustments as we go," Matheny said.

If the Cardinals heavily value past results against Pittsburgh in their decision, Miller could be the odd-man out. Kelly limited the Pirates to two earned runs on 15 hits in 18 innings this season. At PNC Park, he allowed just one run in 12 innings.

Wacha was just as dominant. He pitched seven shutout innings and allowed just two hits in a September start against the Pirates at home. In August, he struck out four in two perfect innings of relief.

Miller, on the other hand, lost all four of his starts against the Pirates this season. He finished six innings just twice and was knocked around for five earned runs on eight hits and three walks in his most recent start at PNC Park.